Teacher placed on leave before she resigned

By Gayle perez
The Pueblo Chieftain

Published: November 21, 2013;Last modified: February 13, 2015 03:22PM

The former South High School teacher accused of “sexting” and kissing a teenage boy was placed on paid administrative leave almost two weeks before she resigned her position, The Pueblo Chieftain learned Thursday.

Larisa Oringdulph, who taught language arts and instrumental music, was placed on paid leave Oct. 28, three days after the district was notified by police it had concluded an investigation into complaints against Oringdulph made by a South parent.

A letter from Paula Chostner, Pueblo City Schools (D60) director of human resources, to Oringdulph dated Oct. 28 stated that Oringdulph was being placed on administrative leave so school administrators could complete the investigation of the allegations against her.

That information was released only after The Pueblo Chieftain’s attorney compelled the district to make the letter public by making a formal Colorado Open Records Act demand.

Oringdulph was on paid leave from Oct. 28 through Nov. 7, at which time she resigned for personal reasons, according to district records.

A police investigation was prompted after a parent contacted officers on Oct. 1 about her concerns with Oringdulph having an inappropriate relationship with her son after the mother found some text messages from her on his cellphone.

The mother told police she had earlier spoken with South Principal Aaron Bravo about her concerns and he told her he would start an investigation.

District officials refuse to comment on the investigation into complaints against Oringdulph or when that investigation occurred.

Oringdulph told police she had gotten into “trouble” in September with an assistant principal after a parent found text messages from Oringdulph on the boy’s cellphone.

Police reports indicate their investigation into the allegations began on Oct. 1 and concluded Oct. 24.

On Oct. 25, police notified South that there was no criminal wrongdoing and that they considered the case closed.

Oringdulph admitted to police to kissing a student and sending sexual text messages to a student but denied sending any photos of herself. Police did find semi-nude pictures of Oringdulph on at least two students’ cellphones.

Oringdulph said she was sending the photos to her personal trainer and accidentally sent them to an unknown number.